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Phillies set season highs for hits, runs in rout

Jul 18, 2007 - 6:38 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- After a brief two-game slumber, the Philadelphia Phillies' bats were back in full swing.

All-Star Aaron Rowand and Shane Victorino recorded five hits apiece and Ryan Howard homered twice as the Phillies rolled to a 15-3 laugher over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.

Chase Utley collected three hits, three RBI and three runs scored and starter J.D. Durbin went 3-for-4 for Philadelphia, which pounded out a season-high 26 hits - one shy of the club record set in 1930 and matched in 1985. Each starter in the Phillies' lineup registered at least one hit.

"Some days I just seem to find the holes," said Utley, who doubled twice to raise his major league-leading total to 39.

The 26 hits allowed tied the Dodgers' mark since moving to Los Angeles. The team yielded 27 to Cincinnati on June 8, 1940 while in Brooklyn.

"Those guys at the top of their lineup were always on base tonight," Los Angeles manager Grady Little said. "The only positive thing is that nobody got hurt. Games like this happen to every team, and tonight, we got it."

Victorino began the onslaught with a one-out single in the first inning and scored on a double by Utley. Two batters later, Rowand notched his only hit that did not go for extra bases, a single to center that plated Utley for a 2-0 lead.

In the fourth, Victorino delivered a two-run triple and Howard launched his first blast with one on, staking Philadelphia to an 8-0 cushion. The reigning National League MVP completed his second multi-homer game of the season with a two-run shot in the fifth.

"I was ahead of Mark (Hendrickson) in my first two at-bats, so all I wanted to do was stay back a little and make adjustments," said Howard, who hit both his homers off reliever Eric Stults. "I got a couple of good pitches to handle and made good contact."

Rowand, who also collected three doubles, and Pat Burrell hit back-to-back homers in the seventh and the Phillies added two more runs in the ninth to eclipse their season high of 13 set on May 27 against the Atlanta Braves.

"It's just one of those games where everyone is stringing hits together and everything is falling," said Rowand, whose five hits were a career best. "We were on the losing side last night, and it's definitely good to be on this end."

Burrell's blast was the 200th of his career.

The offensive clinic marked the second time in five days Philadelphia surpassed the 20-hit mark. On Friday, the Phillies collected 23 in a 13-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

"It was good to give J.D. runs to work with early in the game," Howard said.

With the win, Philadelphia improved to 5-4 in its last nine games. The club scored eight runs or more in each of the victories, outscoring its opponents by a 54-17 margin.

Making just his second start of the season, Durbin (1-2) notched his first career victory, allowing one run and six hits in six innings. The righthander walked two and struck out three.

"It feels good to finally go out and pick up a win," said the 25-year-old Durbin, who had been 0-3 in nine career major league appearances - including two starts. "I just had my stuff working for me, and I just got lucky with the bat tonight. It's always fun when I can help contribute with my bat."

"J.D. did a terrific job going out there and throwing strikes," Utley said.

Hendrickson (4-5) was battered for seven runs and 11 hits in three-plus frames. Stults was tagged for four runs and eight hits in three innings, while Rudy Seanez and Joe Beimel each surrendered two runs in one inning of work.

"Just felt like every pitch I threw was up in the zone and hit hard," Hendrickson said. "I just have to put this start behind me and move on to get ready for my next start."

Jonathan Broxton was the only Los Angeles pitcher that did not allow a run despite giving up two hits in his lone inning.

The outcome could have been worse for the Dodgers, as the Phillies loaded the bases with none out in the second inning while already ahead, 3-0. But Hendrickson got Utley to hit into a forceout at the plate, struck out Howard and induced a popout by Rowand to escape unscathed.